Biological suture anchor with suture eyelet

Abstract

A suture anchor for fixation of soft tissue to bone with a body formed of biological material, such as collagen, and a suture eyelet extending through a cannulation of the body. The body may be in the form of a cannulated member or multiple cannulated members. The suture anchor is placed into a pilot hole and, by combination of shape distortion, friction or insertion force, is fixed in place. Sutures are used to re-approximate tissue to bone.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fixation device, comprising:
 an anchor body consisting essentially of biological material; and   at least one flexible strand extending through the anchor body.   
     
     
         2 . The fixation device of  claim 1 , wherein the biological material is collagen. 
     
     
         3 . The fixation device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible strand forms an eyelet at one end of the anchor body and a static knot at the other end of the anchor body. 
     
     
         4 . The fixation device of  claim 3 , further comprising at least another flexible strand received through the eyelet for further securement to tissue. 
     
     
         5 . The fixation device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible strand is a suture, a suture tape or a suture chain. 
     
     
         6 . The fixation device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible strand is a suture formed of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene. 
     
     
         7 . The fixation device of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor body is a cannulated cylinder formed only of collagen. 
     
     
         8 . The fixation device of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor body comprises a plurality of individual cannulated members, at least one of the individual cannulated members being formed of collagen. 
     
     
         9 . A suture anchor for surgical repairs consisting essentially of a cannulated member formed of collagen and a flexible strand extending through the cannulated member. 
     
     
         10 . The suture anchor of  claim 9 , wherein the cannulated member consists essentially of collagen and the flexible strand is a high strength suture. 
     
     
         11 . The suture anchor of  claim 9 , wherein the flexible strand forms a closed eyelet and a knot, wherein the closed eyelet extends through a cannulation of the cannulated member and exits one end of the cannulated member, and wherein the knot is located at the other end of the cannulated member. 
     
     
         12 . The suture anchor of  claim 9 , wherein the cannulated member is formed of at least one geometrical structure selected from the group consisting of a cylinder, a sphere, a cone, or a prism. 
     
     
         13 . The suture anchor of  claim 9 , wherein the flexible strand is a suture, a suture tape or a suture chain. 
     
     
         14 . The suture anchor of  claim 9 , wherein the cannulated member further comprises a biological component selected from the group consisting of platelet-rich plasma, autologous conditioned plasma and bone marrow aspirate. 
     
     
         15 . A suture anchor comprising a plurality of body segments connected by a material strand, at least one of the plurality of body segments being formed essentially of collagen. 
     
     
         16 . The suture anchor of  claim 15 , wherein all of the plurality of body segments are formed essentially of collagen. 
     
     
         17 . The suture anchor of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of body segments are provided serially along a length of the material strand. 
     
     
         18 . The suture anchor of  claim 15 , wherein the material strand forms an eyelet at a most proximal end of the suture anchor and a knot at a most distal end of the suture anchor. 
     
     
         19 . The suture anchor of  claim 15 , wherein the material strand is one of a suture strand, a nitinol strand, a suture tape or a collagen tape. 
     
     
         20 . A method of fixation of a first tissue to a second tissue, comprising the steps of:
 providing a suture anchor comprising a length of a flexible strand and at least one cannulated body member formed at least partially around and at least partially along the length of the flexible strand, the flexible strand forming an eyelet at a most proximal end of the suture anchor and a knot at a most distal end of the suture anchor, the cannulated body member consisting essentially of collagen;   threading suture through the eyelet; and   placing the suture anchor into bone.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the suture anchor secures soft tissue to bone. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the suture anchor is installed into a bone tunnel or socket. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the flexible strand is one of a suture strand, a suture tape, a suture chain or a nitinol strand.